Supply valve



July 4, 1939. 1 T. MCGRATH 2,164,934

I SUPPLY VALVE Filed sept. 21, .1936

@MMM 2. @w6- Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a supply valve and more particularly to a novel valve for supplying water to a closet tank.

Among the objects of the present invention is 5 to provide a novel construction of valve for supplying flush water to a closet tank.

A further object is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of valve for positively controlling the supply of water and more "quickly and efficiently refilling the supply tank after the ushing operation.

Another object is to provide a valve structure with a novel lever operating mechanism controlled by the float, the lever operating mechanism being so constructed and arranged as to close the valve by a minimum movement of the ball and the outer end of the lever arm which carries the ball. Thus the valve is quickly closed when the depth of water in the closet tank approximately reaches its required depth, and remains fully open until that depth is reached.

A further object is to provide a novel supply valve construction in which the valve moves longitudinally and opens with the water pressure, thereby greatly minimizing the wear on the operating surfaces of the moving parts.

A still further object is to provide a sliding valve adapted to automatically close the supply pipe to the tank Whenever the water supply is 30`shut off and thereby prevent syphoning oi or return of the water retained in the tank. This feature is a distinct advance over prior structures and is extremely important as a safety measure in safeguarding the health of the occupants of a home, apartment, hotel, office building, etc., from an impure water supply.

Another object is to provide a novel discharge outlet so constructed as to muffle or silence the rush of water through the outlet.

40 A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction of valve stem for a supply valve.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and vease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and while I have shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and cornprehends other details, arrangements of parts,

features and constructions Without departing` from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a closet tank with a portion thereof broken away to more clearly disclose the supply valve.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in vertical cross Section through the novel supply valve.

Fig. 3 is a View in horizontal cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawing, the numerals I and 2 refer to the closet tank and cover therefor and in which tank is located the novel supply valve 3. The housing for the supply valve is made sectional and comprises a lower fitting 4 adapted to be suitably mounted upon the supply pipe A, and

an upper member 5 preferably formed as a casting, these members being suitably clamped or connected together by means of screws or the like 6.

The lower fitting 4 has threaded into its upper portion a hollow valve seat 'I formed of suitable metal and provided with a polygonal opening for receiving a tool when the seat is to be assembled or disassembled. On its upper'face the fitting 4 is formed or provided with an annular shoulder or ring 9 adapted to receive the upper casting 5.

'I'he upper casting 5 is formed with two or more arcuate discharge openings I0. By reason of the location of these openings, the water must pass in a tortuous path and the inrushing Water which passes into the increased area of the chamber II, is thereby silenced. It is also threaded to receive an inlet or discharge pipe I2 discharging into the tank I and at its upper end is formed with a boss I3 providing a bearing for a sliding valve member I4. A bushing or sleeve I 5 having an interior diameter permitting free sliding movement of the stem I6 of the valve member is preferably provided in the boss. In a side wall of this member 5 is also provided a threaded boss for receiving a relatively small tube or pipe I1 providing an afterfill for sealing the trap of the bowl.

Mounted or formed on the exterior of the member 5 is a substantially vertical arm or mem.- ber I8 upon the upper end I9 of which is pivotally mounted the one end of a lever arm ZII. This lever arm is interiorly threaded to receive the threaded end 2I of an extension or lever arm 22 carrying at its outer .end a ball float 23. Pivotally mounted on the lever arm 20 at 2|' is a relatively short link 24 which has its lower end pivotally mounted at 25 on a cam lever or bell crank 26. This cam lever or bell crank is further pivotally mounted adjacent its opposite end upon a projection or offset 2'I forming a part of the vertical arm and the free end of this cam lever is so formed as to provide a cam 28 adapted to frictionally or contactingly engage the upper dome-shaped end 29 of the valve member I4.

By locating the pivot of the cam lever directly above the valve sleeve, and also so locating the end of the cam when the valve is in closed position, considerably greater water supply pressure is necessary to unseat the valve. Thus there is no danger of the valve being unseated when an emergency arises and higher pressures are necessary, as when the re pressure is thrown into the water main.

It Will also be apparent from Fig. 2, that the rear surface 30 of they cam is formed with sufcient stock or material to form a stop and prevent the cam from tripping over and locking the valve in closed position. This also compensates for any wear on the washer which would allow the valve stem to be further lowered and require further movement of the cam to completely close the valve.

The valve stem I6 is provided adjacent its upper end with a splash cap 3l which is suitably pressed or xed on the stem and is flared to form a skirt against which any leakage would impinge. The lower end of the stem is enlarged at 32 and hollowed out at 33 to receive a washer 34. This washer is preferably pressed into the opening 33, but if desired, a screw or the like may be provided for more securely retaining it in place. A washer 35 is preferably mounted upon the stem adjacent the enlargement 32 for the purpose of preventing leakage between the stem and bushing when the valve member is in raised position. It also performs the function of providing a bumper or shock absorber preventing the metal to metal contact between the enlargement 32 and the sleeve I 5.

In operation, it will be apparent that the water supply enters the fitting 4 and the pressure of the water will tend to raise the valve member I4 from its seat and allow water to pass through the opening in the valve seat and thence through the arcuate openings I0 into the chamber I I and from there through the inlet pipe I2 to be discharged into the ush tank. That, of course, can only occur when the tank has been flushed and the ball float 23 and lever arm 22 have been lowered due to the discharge of the water from the tank. When the water rises suiciently to carry and raise the arm 22 and float 23, the cam 28 will contact with and depress the dome shaped end 29 of the valve member I4 and force this member against the pressure of the water supply into seating engagement with the valve seat 1.

Should the water pressure be shut 01T for any reason whatever, there is no danger in the present device of the water from the tank syphoning 01T and returning through the fitting 4 since even though no force is exerted by the cam 28 to retain the valve member in` closed position, this member, since it is not connected in any way with the lever system and ball float 23 and is freely slidable in the bushing or sleeve I5, will drop by gravity and retain the valve in closed position.

It will be readily apparent that by reason of the unique system of levers, the ball float and its lever arm need move through a considerably smaller distance than in prior constructions in order to close or permit an opening of the valve. In the present device, this path of travel is but approximately one-third of that traversed in prior commercial structures. This is a distinct advantage in that the valve structure or ballcock will be retained completely open until the tank has been practically filled. It permits a filling of the tank in a consideraby less time than with the prior constructions and eliminates considerable wear upon the valve parts which are quickly and completely opened or closed by a longitudinal movement when the ballcock or valve is operated.

Although the invention has been disclosed in a closet or flush tank, it will be readily appreciated that the valve structure may be employed in various other types of tanks and for numerous` uses.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

l. A valve construction for controlling the water supply to a flush tank and the like, comprising a housing for the valve structure, an arm projecting from the housing, a lever arm carrying a float at one end and pivotally mounted at its other end upon the projecting arm, a freely slidable valve member in the housing having an actuating stem extending outside the housing, a cam lever having an end pivotally mounted on the lever arm and also pivotally mounted intermediate its length upon the supporting arm, and a cam surface on the free end of the cam lever and adapted to engage the valve stem to close the valve member when the iioat is raised to a predetermined height.

2. A Valve construction for controlling the water supply to a iiush tank and the like, comprising a housing for enclosing the valve structure, a lever arm carrying a float at one end for actuating the valve when the depth of water in the tank reaches a. predetermined level, a supporting arm on the housing upon which the lever arm is pivotally mounted, a freely slidable Valve member in the housing, a cam lever pivotally mounted at one end upon the lever arm and also pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon the supporting arm at a point directly above the upper end of the valve member, the free end of the cam lever projecting downwardly and formed with a cam surface adapted to contact the end of the valve member and apply leverage and pressure thereto to move the valve member to a closed position.

JOHN T. MCGRATH. 

